Ask an atheist—but don't expect any straight answers!

Post by **_Evangelion** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:40 am

Frank wrote:Evangelion, It will do wonders for the dialogue!

How, exactly?

Hopefully the atheist will come to realize there is a God and the Christian will not continue to cater to such foolishness. What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? This fellow has heard nearly everything over and over but has he ever been boldly told the truth about himself. I am sure he is forever hearing but never coming to the knowledge of truth. Sixteen years, He claims.

He is more likely to be persuaded by a polite, rational, logical dialogue on the issue of external support for Biblical claims. He is less likely to be persuaded if you simply call him a fool. He needs a reason to believe in God; that's the starting point.

I asked Him in a previous post what does being a christian meen to him, and no response. He also stated that he was a christian before he was an athiest and I asked him how that was so and he has not responded yet.

So what? Give the guy a little time.

He gets off on these strange beliefs and things that has no relevence what so ever to life and the reality of it.

He probably feels the same way about you!

And what's so strange about the idea that he used to be a Christian but isn't any longer? Plenty of people are in the same position.

I am glad someone told him the reality of his life. The reality of it all is that with out belief in God and Jesus his Son, this man will perish and God is not willing and neither am I that he should perish and I hope he comes to repentence.

Why is it , you are quick to rebuke a brother over truth but will not rebuke an athiest who says their is no God?

I don't object so much to what you said, but the way in which you said it.

And I wouldn't call us "brothers"; I suspect that our theology is mutually exclusive.

Post by **_Frank** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:07 am

Evangelion, I did not say you were my brother, I was speaking of DonO.

Do you believe in God? Are you what the Bible calls a born again person. Have you trusted in Jesus as your Lord and savior?

If not, then you are right in that we are not brothers. I am told not to let anyone deceive me with empty words. I am also told by Paul not have have fellowship with the unfaithful works of darkness but rather exspose them.

You Said:
He probably feels the same way about you! And what's so strange about the idea that he used to be a Christian but isn't any longer? Plenty of people are in the same position.

I am not ashamed to tell anyone that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and God is my heavenly father.

Once you have been born again there is no being unborn so therefore you can't be a christian one day and the next day be an athiest.
By what you have said has exsposed who you are.

Like the atheist, I hope you will be enlightend to the truth. Nothing but the truth is going to set him and you free.

I do not want to highjack this tread. It was about asking the athiest and that is what I have done and still doing that. Are you an Agnostic or an Atheist?

Post by **_Mort_Coyle** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:19 am

Forgive my intrusion, but I'm fascinated by this statement:

Once you have been born again there is no being unborn so therefore you can't be a christian one day and the next day be an athiest.
By what you have said has exsposed who you are.

Are you saying then that our friend Atheist was never a Christian even though he claims he was?

Post by **_Evangelion** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:54 am

Frank wrote:Evangelion, I did not say you were my brother, I was speaking of DonO.

OK, sorry - my mistake.

Do you believe in God?

Yes!

Are you what the Bible calls a born again person.

Yes!

Have you trusted in Jesus as your Lord and savior?

Yes!

If not, then you are right in that we are not brothers. I am told not to let anyone deceive me with empty words. I am also told by Paul not have have fellowship with the unfaithful works of darkness but rather exspose them.

Good for you!

You Said:
He probably feels the same way about you! And what's so strange about the idea that he used to be a Christian but isn't any longer? Plenty of people are in the same position.

I am not ashamed to tell anyone that Jesus is my Lord and Savior and God is my heavenly father.

Great! Neither am I!

Once you have been born again there is no being unborn so therefore you can't be a christian one day and the next day be an athiest.

Not true! Read the Pauline epistles! Christians can fall away into unbelief or heresy!

By what you have said has exsposed who you are.

It has?

Like the atheist, I hope you will be enlightend to the truth. Nothing but the truth is going to set him and you free.

Thanks!

I do not want to highjack this tread. It was about asking the athiest and that is what I have done and still doing that. Are you an Agnostic or an Atheist?

I'm a Christian!

Post by **_Frank** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:02 pm

Mort_Coyle wrote:Forgive my intrusion, but I'm fascinated by this statement:

Once you have been born again there is no being unborn so therefore you can't be a christian one day and the next day be an athiest.
By what you have said has exsposed who you are.
Are you saying then that our friend Atheist was never a Christian even though he claims he was?

Yes!

Post by **_Evangelion** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:41 pm

Frank wrote:
Mort_Coyle wrote:Forgive my intrusion, but I'm fascinated by this statement:

Once you have been born again there is no being unborn so therefore you can't be a christian one day and the next day be an athiest.
By what you have said has exsposed who you are.
Are you saying then that our friend Atheist was never a Christian even though he claims he was?
Yes!

How does that work, then?

Post by **_Mort_Coyle** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:19 pm

Interesting. I know a man who was a professing Christian and a pastor. He got mixed up into some very serious sin and fell away from the Lord and even denied Christ. Later, he came back to the Lord.

At what point was this man a Christian and at what point was he not a Christian?

Is he a Christian now? Afterall, he could fall away again.

Are you a Christian? How can you be sure, since you might fall away in the future which would mean that you were never really a Christian?

I'm confused now. It seems that we can't really know if anyone is a Christian until they die professing Christ. This means we have to assume that many of the people we fellowship with (and even learn from) are not actually Christians!

Post by **_Evangelion** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:47 pm

Mort_Coyle wrote:Interesting. I know a man who was a professing Christian and a pastor. He got mixed up into some very serious sin and fell away from the Lord and even denied Christ. Later, he came back to the Lord.

At what point was this man a Christian and at what point was he not a Christian?

Is he a Christian now? Afterall, he could fall away again.

Are you a Christian? How can you be sure, since you might fall away in the future which would mean that you were never really a Christian?

I'm confused now. It seems that we can't really know if anyone is a Christian until they die professing Christ. This means we have to assume that many of the people we fellowship with (and even learn from) are not actually Christians!

Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
I John 2:3-6
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also walk, even as he walked.

Post by **_Frank** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:51 pm

Evangelion and Mort_Coyle, Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and He knows them, and they follow Him. And He gives them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of His hand.
The Father who gave them to Him is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand.

Jesus has never lost a true sheep yet.

Post by **_Evangelion** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:55 pm

Frank wrote:Evangelion and Mort_Coyle, Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and He knows them, and they follow Him. And He gives them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of His hand.
The Father who gave them to Him is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Fathers hand.

True! But this does not stop them wandering away of their own accord.

Jesus has never lost a true sheep yet.

Jesus chose Judas as one of his disciples, but Judas betrayed him.

Meanwhile, you haven't actually dealt with the verses I've quoted. I really would like to see you address them, please.

Thanks.